On one occasion, Hazrat Umar رضي الله عنه took four hundred gold coins, put it in a bag and gave it to his servant saying, “Go to Abu Ubaidah رضي الله عنه and give this money to him. Thereafter, remain there for a while to see what he does with the money (and return and inform me).”
The servant took the bag of gold coins and went to Hazrat Abu Ubaidah رضي الله عنه. He presented the gift saying, “Ameerul Mu-mineen has said that you should spend this on your needs.”
Hazrat Abu Ubaidah رضي الله عنه accepted the gift and made dua for Hazrat Umar رضي الله عنه saying, “May Allah Ta’ala grant him His special proximity and have mercy upon him”.
Thereafter, he called his slave girl and took out a few gold coins from the bag and said, “Take these seven gold coins and give it to so and so person.” He then took out a few more and said, “Give these five gold coins to so and so person.” He continued taking out gold coins from the bag and giving it to his slave girl, commanding her to give it to different people until the entire amount was depleted and finished.
When Hazrat Umar رضي الله عنه heard of how Hazrat Abu Ubaidah رضي الله عنه spent the money on the servants of Allah in charity, he was extremely pleased.
(Al-Mu’jamul Kabeer #46)
(theillustrioussahaabah.com)
REFLECTIONS
Among the beautiful, sublime qualities of Hazrat Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم was the quality of generosity. Even before Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم was blessed with nubuwwah, he was an embodiment of generosity and would readily spend his wealth on the creation.
This beautiful quality of generosity was also salient in the life of Hazrat Mufti Mahmood Saheb رحمه الله. Such was his generosity that some of his students mention that even if he had to be given a large sum of money, he wouldn’t hesitate to spend it all in charity without keeping a single cent for himself. (Hayaat-e-Mahmood 2/272)
Similarly, if any person in need approached Hazrat Mufti Mahmood Saheb رحمه الله for some assistance, and he had no money to give the person at that time, then he would not turn the person away empty-handed, but would give him something – even if it was some of the food he was eating at that time. (Hayaat-e-Mahmood 2/272)
There are many incidents in his life which illustrate his profound spirit of generosity. One such incident is mentioned below:
Spending His Own Wealth on the Poor Students in the Madrasah
It is mentioned that Hazrat Mufti Mahmood Saheb رحمه الله had made special arrangements to grant an allowance to certain students from his own wealth. During the course of the year, Hazrat Mufti Saheb رحمه الله would buy various important reference kitaabs and distribute them among the iftaa students (students becoming Muftis). Similarly, when these students were graduating, Hazrat Mufti Saheb (rahimahullah) would purchase and give them certain Fatwa kitaabs which they would require. In this manner, certain students were given so many kitaabs by Hazrat Mufti Saheb رحمه الله that these kitaabs alone amounted to a small library. (Hayaat-e-Mahmood 2/274)
(Ihyaauddeen.co.za)